Mr. Flake introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Natural
Resources

A BILL

To provide for reasonable and necessary access to
Wilderness Areas for the restoration of water sources, supplies, or
infrastructure during a state of emergency declared by the Governor of a
State.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the
Emergency Water Supply Restoration
Act.

2.

Actions in
Wilderness Areas during a declared State of Emergency

(a)

Access to
Wilderness Areas

When a state
of emergency declared by the Governor of a State authorizes access to,
reconstruction of, repairs to, or restoration of water sources, supplies, or
infrastructure located in a Wilderness Area, the respective State’s agencies
and political subdivisions may take all reasonable and necessary means of
accessing, reconstructing, repairing, or restoring such water sources,
supplies, or infrastructure as determined in their sole discretion, including
access by heavy mechanized or motorized vehicles or equipment, the placement,
replacement or repair of above ground or underground pipelines or aqueducts,
and the repair or construction of permanent water catchment structures and
above-grade diversionary flumes or other diversion infrastructure.

(b)

Restriction on
Federal impediments

No Federal agency may regulate, permit,
interfere, or otherwise impede such access, reconstruction, repairs, or
restoration during the duration or any extension of the declared state of
emergency.